A Mother’s Love…
How precious is the love
of a mother’s heart!
Even as a child… It’s there from the start.
A mother’s love knows
no boundary or limit.
It’s often shown by how
much the mother gives it!
Whether her children are
young or growing old…
And whatever circumstances
in life may unfold…
Her love is continually
a solid foundation…
That can’t be removed, torn or shaken.
Her love is what is
a “guiding force…”
Even if her children’s lives
stray “off course.”
I’m thankful for the love
my mother’s given…
It’s surely influenced
the way I’ve been livin’!
To all of our mothers across
our great nation…
May we show them our love
and appreciation!
Their love has stood and
endured the test of time…
I’m so glad that one of them is MINE!
By Jim Pemberton

The Family That God Gave to Me
I think about the family,
that God gave to me...
And think about where
they'll spend eternity!
I think about the good times,
that we've had.
And the trials we've faced...
Both good and bad!
God helped us to overcome
adversity together!
And proved his faithfulness...
Today and forever!
He showed us the Godly path,
that we should follow...
And promised to be with us!
Today and tomorrow!
He's proven how
much he loves us!
And how much that he
cares for us!
Thank you my lord,
for all you do!
Where would we be?
If not for you?
You've proven yourself
over and over again!
Thank you so much,
for being our friend!
By Jim Pemberton

someone always told me this with tears in her eyes...
(for Lata Sethi's late-mother, who was my mother’s ‘sister’ and who took us all into her heart, and for Lata and Ravi Sethi of Defence Colony, New Delhi)
a wife left South Africa in the 1960’s to join her husband
who was in exile at the time...
in 1970 the husband was sent by the African National Congress to India to be its representative there...
the husband and wife spent two years in Bombay...
one afternoon the husband fell and broke his leg...
the wife knocked on their neighbour’s door, in an apartment complex in Bombay
the neighbour was an old Punjabi lady...
the wife asked the neighbour for a doctor to see to the injured husband...
a Parsi ‘Bone-Setter’ was promptly summoned...
the husband still recalls his anxiety of seeing ‘Bone-Setter’ written on the Parsi gentleman’s bag...
by the way, the ‘Bone-Setter’ worked his ancient craft and surprisingly for the husband, his broken leg healed quite soon...
but still on that day, while the ‘Bone-Setter’ was seeing to the husband...
the wife and the old Punjabi lady from next door got to talking about this and that and where these new Indian-looking wife and husband were from as their accents were clearly not local...
the wife told the elderly Punjabi lady that the husband worked for the African National Congress of South Africa and had left to serve the ANC from exile...
and that they had left their two children behind in South Africa and that they were now essentially political refugees...
the Punjabi lady broke down and wept uncontrollably...
she told the foreign woman that she too had had to leave her home in Lahore in 1947 and flee to India with only the clothes on her back when the partition of the subcontinent took place and Pakistan was formed and at a time when Hindus from Pakistan fled to India and vice versa...
the Punjabi lady then asked the foreign woman her name...
‘Zubeida’, but you can call me ‘Zubie’...
the Punjabi woman hugged Zubie some more, and the two women, seperated by age and geography, wept, sharing a shared pain...
the Punjabi woman told Zubie that she was her ‘sister’ from that day on, and that she felt that pain of exile and forced migration and what being a refugee felt like...
Zubie and her husband Mosie became the closest of friends with the Hindu Punjabi neighbours who were kicked out of Pakistan by Muslims...
then came the time for Mosie and Zubie to leave for Delhi where the African National Congress office was based...
the elderly Punjabi lady and Mosie and Zubie said their goodbyes...
a year or two later, the elderly Punjabi lady’s daughter Lata married Ravi Sethi and the couple moved to Delhi...
the elderly Punjabi lady called Zubie and told her that her daughter was coming to Delhi to live and that she had told Lata, her daughter that she had a ‘sister’ in Delhi...
Lata and Ravi Sethi then moved to Delhi...
This was in the mid-1970’s...
Lata and Zubie became the closest of friends and that bond stayed true, and stays true till today, though Zubie is no more, and the elderly Punjabi lady is no more...
the son and the husband still have a bond with Lata and Ravi Sethi...
a bond that was forged between Hindu and Muslim and between two continents across the barriers of creed and time...
a bond strong and resilient, forged by the pain and trauma of a shared experience...
and that is why, and I shall never stop believing this, that hope shines still, for with all the talk of this and of that, and of that and of this, there will always be a simple woman, somewhere, anywhere, who would take the ‘other’ in as a sister, a fellow human...
and that is why there will always be hope...
hope in the midst of this and of that and of that and of this...
hope...
(for Lata Sethi's late-mother, who was my mother’s ‘sister’ and who took us all into her heart, and for Lata and Ravi Sethi of Defence Colony, New Delhi)

I cannot get into heaven
God I have tried!
Suicide is a double edge sword
Especially when you survive!
Walking the streets at night
Dazed and confused
Longing to be loved
Wondering...
When is Mum, coming for me?
"Does she still love me?"
"Does she still care?"
"Does she still think of me?"
"Does she wonder, where I am?"
I want her to come find me
I want her to say she 'loves me’
I want her to comfort me
I want her to take me home
And keep me safe
And not forget hat I exist
Like the way she treats me now
I wish God
Could make my Mum
Magically appear
Making this hellish nightmare
On the street
Disappear!
“Send my Mum please!”
So, all this can end!
Before this last ray of hope
Diminishes for good!
I don’t want to become
The walking dead
Forever forgotten as if
I was never born!
For this is the cruel, harsh reality
Of living life, feeling unloved
Uncared for, abandoned,
Left to fend for my own
A dangerous killer inside me
Eating away, at my soul
Something, no one can see
As I suffer in silence
My insides crippling!
Lost, alone and frightened
Weeping on a dirty
Graffiti park bench
Dirty tears
Rolling down my cheeks
Stuffing newspapers under my jumper
To keep myself warm
“What am I going to do?”
“Will I make it through the night?”
“Will I get raped and beaten?”
"Will I be left for dead?”
“Will I survive
To see another day?
“Is my life worth living?”
Please God, I beg of you
Have mercy now
Please show me the way!

Here I sit, uncertain of what lies ahead.
I’m still wondering how my family will be fed.
I once had a job that provided a sense of “security.”
Now I don’t… And I have a lot of uncertainty!
I have unpaid bills, and I’m not sure what to do.
I’ve asked for help. But not sure who to turn to!
I get discouraged, and feel life “pulling me down.”
I’ve tried just about every job that’s in town.
The dreams I had, have been shattered and smashed.
At times, I feel like I’m just “a piece of trash.”
My wife tried to support me, the best that she can.
But she doesn’t know me… Or even understands!
Dear Jesus… You’re the only left that I haven’t tried.
There’s been many nights I laid awake and cried!
I read in the Bible, where your love for me is real!
When I call on your name... There’s a love I can feel!
Whatever happens, please help me Lord, to trust you!
Whatever tomorrow holds, may I still love you!
I know that you’re a foundation, that I can stand on!
Jesus is a friend! That I can always depend on!
Jesus, if I lose everything that I have or that I hold on to...
My I always remember your faithfulness
and never forget you!
Here I stand… With my burdens lifted from me!
It’s because of Jesus! And how much he loves me!
I praise HIS name! And lift my hands to the sky!
He’s in control now! I don’t have to ask the reason why!
Jesus… Please take control of my worries and desires!
Above all of my problems, I lift your name up higher!
By Jim Pemberton

A Very Inviting Temptation!
I remember of a particular situation.
I was offered a very "inviting" temptation.
The situation I was in... I didn't belong!
And lost any sense of "right and wrong."
At first... I felt no guilt or shame.
And brought embarrassment
to my family's name.
I tried to explain this to my wife and kids.
I heard; "Dad... please... no more fibs!"
The Godly principles were "tossed to the side,"
As the sin inside caused arrogance and pride.
Soon, all in my life that truly mattered...
Was gone! My life was empty and shattered!
I was sorry for all of the problems I caused!
This time... I took a moment to pause.
I cried to God to rescue me from my sin.
I confessed! Would God help me once again?
I read in the Bible of Jesus’ grace and love!
This time the help I needed had to come from above!
I asked him for a fresh and brand new start.
He removed the stain from a broken heart.
He restored to me the joy I once had.
I'm so blessed! Jesus has made me glad!
Jesus is the reason I'm here today!
I LOVE HIM more than words can say!
By Jim Pemberton

As A Parent, I Want My Kids to Serve God!
As a parent, I’m trying the best that I can….
Though there are things that I don’t understand!
I remember my parents teaching me right and wrong.
And taught that God’s laws certainly belong!
I’ve tried to share these values with my kids too…
The choices they’ve made, and the things they do!
When situations in life, seem to have changed…
I know that my heavenly father remains the same!
I think about what in life, to my kids, I have given…
And pray they’ll serve God all the days they’re livin’!
Even though I’ve failed and stumbled along the way…
I hope I’ve taught my kids
how important it is to pray!
This family that God gave to me,
has grown over a period of time.
I’m thankful for the opportunity to call them “mine.”
I pray they’ll seek God’s guidance!
Wherever they go!
May the word of God strengthen
and nourish their soul!
And as my kids get older, and they move out on their own…
May they seek God’s love and protection over their home!
I pray that my children will give God their very best!
May they serve him daily! And let him take care of the rest!
I’m trying my best, as a parent, to trust Jesus and believe!
His goodness, in our lives, is what we need to achieve!
By Jim Pemberton

I’m sure that home to many has a different meaning.
It depends what kind of life
they’ve been receiving.
There are those with memories of hurt and pain.
Some may not want to mention their families name.
Others have childhood memories they are fond of.
They may have a family that they’re proud of!
I think that in many cases, home is not what people see.
It has a lot of importance.
Both to you and me!
What home means to me is to have our family together.
And ask the Lord to bless it, with his love forever!
God gave me a wife and children to take care of.
May I not do things that I’d be ashamed of!
I invite YOU Jesus, to be the head of our home!
May we come together as a family,
around your throne!
May our family serve
one another as we should.
May the truths of God’s word
be applied and understood!
May the Lord help us to get along,
with our imperfections.
May God’s word be our “road map,” for needed direction!
There’s no perfect home. Believe me! I know it!
When it comes to family time… We all need to show it!
Unless the lord builds the home…
They labor in vain that build it!
Let’s seek God’s blessing! So his love can completely fill it!
Please come Jesus! And fill our home today!
May our home be honored by what we do and say!
By Jim Pemberton

I cry myself awake
In the middle of the day
Because of a decision I made
Not to spend time with you.
And now everything I am
Is falling apart into pieces;
I feel like I am losing you
Because I am losing myself.

Why am I so selfish?
Why do I live for the wrong things?
I am dying inside
Because I refuse to see the light.
I need to say yes,
But I still haven't learned that yet.
I am a fool,
And I am hurting you.
If I would let go of myself,
I would hold on to you.

There’s a family I know, that may seem old fashioned.
But they serve others from a heart of compassion!
They don’t have much in the scope
of entertainment.
But they have each other,
and much contentment.
They have a love for God that comes from within!
And are thankful to the Lord
for being their friend!
They don’t get too involved with that the world brings.
They have each others love.
They have everything!
This family has been an inspiration to others too!
By their giving hearts, in much of what they do!
This family has a commitment to serve God above.
And have asked Jesus to fill them with his love!
This may seem old fashioned,
not to have a lot of things…
But they know their Lord
and the love that he brings!
I’m thankful to know them and their Godly inspiration…
I extend to them a heart of thanks and appreciation!
Please dear Lord, bless and keep them in your arms!
Be with them Jesus, and protect them from harm!
May the blessings of God keep
flowing through them!
And may the peace and joy of God continue to be with them!
By Jim Pemberton 05/29/13

Screw my father
that I never knew.
If you take the blame
screw you, too.
Help my family
my Mom, Grandparents, and my Brother.
Let them live happily,
and get along with one another.
When I leave
I hope people will will remember me.
I will believe.
Screw everyone who disagrees.
Let God rise
and let him take his final prize.
Let him free this earth from crime and lies.
If someone dies
I just hope someone cries.
I hope we all grow old
not cold,
survive
till we are ninety five.
If you're still alive
Will you remember me?
Will I be in you're memory?
Let the kids
who used to beat me up
in the street
Kiss me
from my head
to my feet.
When they die and go to hell,
and start to bleed.
Baptize me in their blood
cure other people with their love
this rhyme will start a flood.

The Cowardice of the Taliban and The Silence of The Good Muslims.
When hot lead tears the flesh of a 14 year old girl,
ripping through her skull,
leaving her to bleed out and die,
does Allah not recoil in horror,
to see His child whimper,
to see His daughter cry.
Where is the indignation,
the anger that often boils over and manifests itself as flags and books and videos are burnt in mass orgies of hollow piety,
where are the voices that scream so loud,
that denounce all but their own creed,
where are the men, the impotent men who crave for nothing more than their fascist egos to feed,
where are the voices that so loudly proclaim,
enemies here and enemies there, always quick to condemn,
where are those voices when the enemy walks amongst them.
14 year old Malala Yousafzai was shot in cold blood,
her crime?
Advocating the rights of girls to an education.
Shame on you, men of bigotry and men of cowardice.
Shame on you, silent and mute accomplices in this carnage.
Shame on me,
for my inaction,
Shame on us all,
who proclaim lofty ideals,
yet are conspicuously silent,
when a 14 year old girl is shot in the head,
by fascist fundamentalist bigots who only worship bullets of hot lead.
Not in my name!
Not in my name,
shall the cowardly men rain down abuse,
Not in my name,
shall the bigoted men light the communalistic fuse,
Not in my name,
shall Malala Yousafzai be shot in the head,
left to bleed out,
while countless mothers' tears are shed,
not in my name,
shall religious murderers,
be left to wander free,
not in my name,
for I dare all believers to open their eyes,
to see!
To see,
the innocence of a 14 year old girl,
wanting only an education,
as the men of the cloth,
prance around with their pathetic self-righteous indignation.
I write this today,
the anger raging in my veins,
yet I fear,
that I shall write more of this,
unless we stand up and say 'no more',
I fear that I shall be writing this again,
until we all,
reclaim the true principles of humaneness,
until we silence the voices of bigotry,
of rage,
of fanatical insanity,
I fear I shall be writing this again,
and,
until the muck-ridden bile,
is not excised,
I shall continue to say,
NOT IN MY NAME!
Or else I shall have nothing,
but my unending shame.
(for Malala Yousafzai, 14 years old, in a critical condition after being shot in the head by the Pakistani Taliban, for her work as a young activist advocating the rights of girls to attend school)

I can think of a time, when I was young.
I was growing up and having fun!
I remember how excited I was to have a t.v.
There were my brothers, my parents and me!
I remember at about the age of ten.
My dad thought going to the theater was a “sin.”
There were many things
that as young man…
I later began to see, and understand!
My parents shared God’s love the best they could!
And I read the Bible and was trying to be “good.”
I had my troubles… And problems bear...
But I had a family, and much prayer!
The truth of God’s word helped sustain me!
I knew how much he really loved me!
My parents, may seem like they were “old fashioned.”
They loved their kids! With a Godly compassion!
I’m thankful to be blessed with a Godly love!
My family was a treasure from heaven above!
I think about today, and how things go wrong.
Many families don’t seem to “get along!”
I pray for the blessing of God, to bind them together!
May we all serve him! Today, and forever!
His love must be the cord that binds!
His will must be the focus of our minds!
May the presence of God bind us as one!
Every mother, father, daughter and son!
By Jim Pemberton

I wrote this one with a friend in mind;
Her growing belly tells what most think the whole story
Her age is a cause for shame
She is scared And feels so alone
Strangers look at her And laugh
Pointing and wispers
She thinks her only way out is to destroy the thing inside
Angels and demons struggle in her young head
Fighting for life
She goes to church
Pro-life people shun her
They whisper:
“She is just a young child”
Against all odds she decided to tell her friends and family
She is going to see this through
She encounters lots of anger
What a little whore she is
God seems to not love her
She makes an appointment
Tears in her eyes she ascends
She opens the door to the clinic and climbs the stairs
Carrying the weight of her cross
A miracle
A older women dressed nice with hair as bright as the sun
Do not harm this child
Take comfort my dear sweet girl
I have been where you are
I have received their teasing
Do not listen to them
God himself has blessed you
The bulging belly tells a story
Your naked hand proves how brave you really are.
You've made it this far and you will make it even more.
Not every woman out there can do what God has blessed you with.
The woman gave a hug and the tears started to pour.
Back in the car she took a deep breath.
With a hand on her belly she spoke to the little child.
" I don't know if your a girl or boy, or even if I will be a good mom"
I promise to you I will try to do my best, just please don't turn out like me and be wild!"
She started the car and prepared to drive home for the worse
She knew this child was not going to be easy to have
Inside her was a little life growing bigger each day
No matter how hard it was going to be with her faith in God she would find a way.

Jesus… We Ask For Your Protection!
Jesus… We ask for your protection
upon our home.
May our family sing praises
around your throne!
May you be honored in the things we say and do!
May our hearts be as an expression of YOU!
We pray that your blessings will be received!
May your spirit of loving,
be what’s achieved!
We pray that we’ll strive for a Godly way of living!
And walk before you,
in a spirit of thanksgiving!
We pray that our vows to one another will be ”reinforced!”
Help us to stay strong, and not drift “off course.”
May your peace be what binds us together!
Allowing you to be our lord… Now and forever!
Please bind our hearts together as one!
May your words guide our daughters and sons!
We thank and bless you!
And praise your holy name!
An abundant life with you,
may we seek to obtain.
You are and will always be the Lord for us!
We give you our love, and all of our trust!
You give us everything we have ever needed!
With you, our home has been completed!
By Jim Pemberton

What’s Happening to Marriages Today?
I was listening to someone just the other day…
And I couldn’t believe what he had to say!
He had left his wife and children for another!
She was young enough to be his daughter!
Here they were, “in love” and holding hands!
Hoping to soon, get their “wedding bands!”
They were pretending that this was so “cool.”
Living now by their own “set of rules!”
How sick and disgusting this is getting to be!
Is this something that many can’t see?
God gave us Adam and Eve to become one.
To bear fruit through daughters and sons!
He gave us marriage as holy vows are made.
Not to march in an “adulterous parade!”
We are treading on very dangerous ground!
Faithfulness and commitment
are scarcely found!
The very definition of marriage is changing!
As the family unit is always rearranging!
Our only hope is in Jesus! And him alone!
Let’s promote his love! Into our hearts and home!
Let’s allow his love to be our heart’s glue!
And bring new meaning to the words; “I love you!”
May his love bind our hearts and lives together!
And remain faithful to each other forever!
By Jim Pemberton

An Adulterous Situation
I knew of a couple, involved in an adulterous situation.
A person involved, claimed that he was a Christian!
He told others that he wanted to tell her about the Lord…
But this involvement in sin, he couldn’t well “afford!”
A “casual” encounter led to the marriage’s destruction.
Her husband was so hurt, he could hardly “function.”
How could this man think there’s “nothing wrong with it.”
“It must be fine.” He thought. “everyone’s doing it!”
Jesus has come, that we might have freedom from within!
Going to church, doesn’t give us a “license to sin!”
God gave us marriage, as a holy and divine covenant!
He gave us his word, so that our lives can be abundant!
May this be a stern warning to one and all!
That which may look attractive, will cause us to fall!
If there’s something more from marriage that you desire…
Be careful! Your deep passions will burn like a fire!
May I encourage you to pray and seek the Lord above!
And ask him to build your marriage on his love!
Only he can restore everything the enemy has taken!
He’ll be with you, when you may feel totally forsaken!
Adultery is like a cancer cell… That will eventually destroy!
It’ll rob you of the many blessings, that God wants you to enjoy!
What God has joined as one... May there be no separation!
But a heart of unselfishness,
and a renewed dedication!
By Jim Pemberton

An Adulterous Situation
I knew of a couple, involved in an adulterous situation.
A person involved, claimed that he was a Christian!
He told others that he wanted to tell her about the Lord…
But this involvement in sin, he couldn’t well “afford!”
A “casual” encounter led to the marriage’s destruction.
Her husband was so hurt, he could hardly “function.”
How could this man think there’s “nothing wrong with it.”
“It must be fine.” He thought. “everyone’s doing it!”
Jesus has come, that we might have freedom from within!
Going to church, doesn’t give us a “license to sin!”
God gave us marriage, as a holy and divine covenant!
He gave us his word, so that our lives can be abundant!
May this be a stern warning to one and all!
That which may look attractive, will cause us to fall!
If there’s something more from marriage that you desire…
Be careful! Your deep passions will burn like a fire!
May I encourage you to pray and seek the Lord above!
And ask him to build your marriage on his love!
Only he can restore everything the enemy has taken!
He’ll be with you, when you may feel totally forsaken!
Adultery is like a cancer cell… That will eventually destroy!
It’ll rob you of the many blessings, that God wants you to enjoy!
What God has joined as one... May there be no separation!
But a heart of unselfishness,
and a renewed dedication!
By Jim Pemberton

When Mom died, it broke my heart, that was how I was affected.
But the best day of my life will be the day when she's resurrected.
When Mom is resurrected, she will be in perfect health and she will be young again.
This will happen one day in the future when Jesus returns, the world will be free of sin.
It was very sad and painful when Mom's life came to an end.
But when Mom is resurrected, I'll be reunited with my best friend.
We will be reunited with our loved ones because Jehovah God is so glorious.
Satan will be defeated after this happens, Jehovah and his son will be victorious.
When Mom is resurrected, what a wonderful day it will be.
When this happens, I'll tell her how much she means to me.
[Dedicated to Agnes Johnson (1948-2013) who passed away on March 6, 2013.]

My mom
loves
the true God
She smiles
about him
with a wink
and a nod
Bible in
her hand
She gives
all a sermon
No shame
in her belief
that she
will be released
Wanting
everyone
to know
that the
Bible
tells her so
And
everyone who
listens
will be
blessed
with millions
of gifts
beyond belief
If they
embrace
these things
beyond
comprehension
Her true God
is willing
to gather
the disbelieving
into his
arms of reprieve
And grant
a joyous reunion
in paradise
lending reduction
of sins in
sinuous reflections
Giving wholeness
to the lowly
The true way
of forever loving
mankind in their
forever being
sinless and
called holy
Waiting patiently
on a new day
For true love
to be at play
The rule
of the heavens
with
brighter days
Until she
hears everyone
singing amen
I love you mom. Your struggles are a gift from above.
To show that we are capable of unconditional love.